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Do you wear your ring at the beach or pool?

soxfan

soxfan

Ideal_Rock
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Joined
Jun 20, 2013
Messages
4,814
I am going to the cape for a week with my girlfriend and our kids. I want to WEAR my 5 stone the whole time, and we will be at the beach most every day. It's a shared prong 5 stone in 14k white gold. I got this ring for the wearability and that fact that I would not have to baby it. It fits perfectly, and if my fingers are swollen from the heat, it is hard to take off and I'd like to leave it on the whole vacation. I plan on cleaning it each night with a baby toothbrush and dawn dish soap.

I also have a salt water pool, but it generates chlorine. I swam in it with it on yesterday. Is this all ok? My other rings are in very dainty settings and I only wear them shopping, out for dinner, and when I won't be doing anything that can damage them. I would LOVE to be able to wear this 5 stone as my everyday ring and not have to worry about it. It's so classic and comfortable!

Looking for feedback from all of you!!!
 
I think that you will be totally fine! It might get a bit dirty from the lotions and beach, but you said that you plan on cleaning it. I used to wear my original engagement ring all the time wherever I went and never had any issues. It is always nice to have a bit of bling with you when on vacation!

Enjoy the cape! I love it there in the summer and fall :love:
 
It sounds like it would be fine. That said, my engagement ring stayed home when I went to the Bahamas recently. It’s perfectly sturdy and snug, but I just couldn’t risk losing it. Even though it’s insured, the ACA is not replaceable (spready, just a hair under 3ct)
 
I think you’d be fine, especially since you plan to clean it nightly. If you have any worries about losing it due to slippery lotions on your hand, maybe consider getting a simple, slightly snug, thin spacer band to wear on the outside of it to help ensure it stays on. But otherwise, wear it & love it! That’s the only way you can enjoy it. :wavey:
 
I don't just for fear of losing a stone. When I'm going to be in water I wear a plain band.
 
I would say no, but that's mostly because I know of way too many people that have lost a ring in a pool, lake, the ocean, etc. to never be found again. Also, you should not wear non 24k gold jewelry in a pool - even a salt water pool- as the chlorine will react with the other metals in the alloy.

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/news/is-chlorine-bad-for-gold/

https://info.jewelersmutual.com/the-jewelry-box/10-jewelry-safety-tips-to-avoid-a-bummer-summer

- note this is an accelerated reaction as they are using a much more concentrated solution than your pool, but the effect is the same.

I'm sure I could pull some scientific journals if I need to =)2
 
the_mother_thing said:
I think you’d be fine, especially since you plan to clean it nightly. If you have any worries about losing it due to slippery lotions on your hand, maybe consider getting a simple, slightly snug, thin spacer band to wear on the outside of it to help ensure it stays on. But otherwise, wear it & love it! That’s the only way you can enjoy it. :wavey:
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It can't get back over my knuckle without some wrestling:) No worries, there.
 
soxfan said:
It can't get back over my knuckle without some wrestling:) No worries, there.
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I was just going to say you should be fine, but that unless the ring was snug it might be a bit risky. It sounds like your fingers are shaped like mine though (thick in the middle), which would lead me to declare “go forth and enjoy your bling!” :mrgreen2:

Eta: I’m willing to risk the possibility of chemical contamination, but that’s something you’d need to decide on for yourself. As you said, I don’t want to baby my stuff and it’s not like I’m in the pool or at the beach a large part of my life.
 
I think chlorine can be damaging to gold, but I can't recall specifics ... may cause the metal to turn brittle? may cause the metal to discolor/darken?

eta: FWIW regardless of fit/value, I don't like to wear rings in the water - whether pool, ocean, shower, washing dishes - so for me it would be a no-go just as a matter of personal preference.
 
I don't have a problem wearing my ring to the beach, but I leave it at home if I'll be swimming in the ocean. The heat makes my fingers swell, but they shrink waaaay down once I'm in cold saltwater.
 
marymm said:
I think chlorine can be damaging to gold, but I can't recall specifics ... may cause the metal to turn brittle? may cause the metal to discolor/darken?

eta: FWIW regardless of fit/value, I don't like to wear rings in the water - whether pool, ocean, shower, washing dishes - so for me it would be a no-go just as a matter of personal preference.
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Correct, chlorine very bad for gold and can damage it. See the links I posted above.
 
I’m a no.

I just don’t want to. Many reasons.
 
Aside from risk of damage (covered above), salt water will dehydrate your skin. Suddenly that too tight ring has slipped off and it gone. People search beaches with metal detectors for a reason. Big NO for me.

Also, some will say, "that's why I have insurance." That should provide some comfort, but only if your rings and gems can be replicated. I wear antiques and antique stones and colored stones. You can't just pick another one from the same vendor and get an identical look. Even if the ring is modern, but has a fancy shape or fancy color, you are in the same boat.
 
The amount of chlorine in a pool or the salt in the ocean that you and your body will be exposed to is not going to damage your gold or diamonds. If there were to be some slight oxidation on the gold it would be merely surface and easily removed with a polishing cloth. The level of chemicals in pools is modest, otherwise peoples eyes and skin would be damaged. If your skin can survive exposure, high carat gold which is almost inert won’t be affected.
The main risk is always loss. Fingers shrink and suntan lotions make fingers greasy. I have always worn my eternity ring everywhere everyday, swimming, sauna, ocean, chlorine for over 20 years with absolutely no problem. I do not however wear my engagement ring. It’s bigger, heavier and will loosen with lotions. It’s also worth too much to lose.
 
I am going to fully insure it with JM before I leave and it will NOT fit over my knuckle with ease no matter how much my skin shrinks. I am actually glad I went with the 4.5 instead of 4.75 now that I see the comments:)

My engagement ring, however, would. It's also top heavy so it stays at home.
 
That sounds like a good plan Soxfan! I wear my gold rings to the beach but do not make a habit of swimming in pools with them on. Gotta have some bling on the beach!! Have a great vacation!:lol-2:
 
Matthews1127 said:
No way. I don’t even wash my hands in tap water, with my diamonds on.
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Really????? I am so paranoid about misplacing mine (even though I have dedicated holding dishes on both levels) that I rarely ever take mine off. The only two usual exceptions are when I’m putting them in the ultrasonic or working with raw meat without wearing gloves. Other than that, they’re on my finger :dance:
 
ILikeShiny said:
Really????? I am so paranoid about misplacing mine (even though I have dedicated holding dishes on both levels) that I rarely ever take mine off. The only two exceptions are when I’m putting them in the ultrasonic or working with raw meat without wearing gloves. Other than that, they’re on my finger :dance:
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I have dishes in several rooms around the house, and at work, I wear scrubs with front pockets. I wash, dry, and put them right back on. It’s become a habit, and I don’t even think about it. It’s just second nature. I’ve never left them somewhere, because they never leave me; they’re just off my finger to clean my hands. If I don’t have a pocket, sock, or can’t use my bra, I’ll zip them in my purse, a wristlet, or roll them in my waist band. I’ll never set them down on a counter top or a sink...ever. I’d rather wrap them in a paper towel, and hold them between my lips, while washing my hands, than wear them in water.
 
Great thread! Back when I got engaged a woman told me "Better to have a dirty ring than no ring" when we were discussing what to do with rings when washing hands in a public bathroom. I still hear her saying that when I'm washing my hands!
 
Now, I WILL wear my rings on the beach. I have basal cell carcinoma, so I stay out of the high sun as much as I can, but I’ll sit outside in early morning, and late afternoon/early evening, and enjoy the sun & the fun. I will sit in the shade, during the hours of the day when the sun is high in the sky, and wear my bling. I won’t wear my rings, if I have to wear sunscreen, or help my kids apply their sunscreen. A thorough wash of the hands occurs (sometimes twice to 3 times), before I put my rings back on, after applying sunscreen to myself or my kids. I’m just SUPER anal about my diamonds.
I have a plain, stainless steel band, and CZ’s to wear, in their place, if I am not comfortable wearing my diamonds.
 
I live at the beach, and we are on/in the water a lot. I always wear my 7 stone band. Most just out of habit. I don’t generally wear my engagement ring. It’s never been an issue for me.
 
Bron357 said:
The amount of chlorine in a pool or the salt in the ocean that you and your body will be exposed to is not going to damage your gold or diamonds. If there were to be some slight oxidation on the gold it would be merely surface and easily removed with a polishing cloth. The level of chemicals in pools is modest, otherwise peoples eyes and skin would be damaged. If your skin can survive exposure, high carat gold which is almost inert won’t be affected.
The main risk is always loss. Fingers shrink and suntan lotions make fingers greasy. I have always worn my eternity ring everywhere everyday, swimming, sauna, ocean, chlorine for over 20 years with absolutely no problem. I do not however wear my engagement ring. It’s bigger, heavier and will loosen with lotions. It’s also worth too much to lose.
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Good to know that the chlorine won't damage my gold. Hanks Bron!!!
 
Never, never, never in a pool! The beach, maybe. I’m just more comfortable leaving my diamonds safe at home and just wear a plain band for those type of activities.
 
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